Golf ball mark repair tool

ABSTRACT

A ball mark repair tool includes a flat handle and vertical blades extending forward of the handle on parallel blade axes. The blades are oriented in planes parallel to each other and normal to the plane of the handle. The handle is adapted to be grasped between a user&#39;s thumb and fingers, and the blades are adapted for incremental movement through turf and soil.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention is a hand tool for use by a golfer to repair a mark or depression in a putting green surface made by a golf ball landing on the green.

A golf ball making a hard landing on a green often makes a dent or “ball mark” on the green, exposing soil in the middle of the ball mark. (For the sake of the following description, consider the ball mark as a hemispherical depression in a flat turf surface). To preserve the putting surface of the green, golfers typically attempt to repair ball marks, first with a conventional flat, pry-up style tool, then with a putter head or the golfer's own shoe to pat down the uneven repair mark.

Conventionally, these repairs are made by: (1) inserting a flat blade into the ground with the flat of the blade “facing” the center of the ball mark, and; (2) levering the lower end of the inserted blade upward to pry the turf, under the ball mark, up and in toward the center of the ball mark.

Inserting a wide blade into turf, and then prying or twisting the blade to raise the dented and damaged turf (and exposed soil), severs the roots and tears the turf. Such ball marks become brown spots on the green. This action causes direct damage to grass in the ball mark area, and it impedes recovery of the turf. It may also affect putting.

Prior art that I am aware of includes U.S. Pat. No. 6,565,458 issued May 20, 1993 to Cameron. Cameron discloses a ball mark repair tool having a flat handle and two flat prongs extending forward from it. Handle and prong surfaces all face up and down. Cameron is typical of the prior art which it is the object of this inventon to improve.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In summary, this invention is a ball mark repair tool with a flat handle and vertical blades extending forward of the handle on parallel blade axes. The blades are oriented in planes parallel to each other and normal to the plane of the handle. The handle is adapted to be grasped between a user's thumb and fingers, and the blades are adapted for incremental movement through turf and soil.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawing:

FIG. 1 shows a typical conventional ball mark tool.

FIG. 2 is an end view, as from the right end of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates the action of the tool of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 shows a ball mark tool according to this invention.

FIG. 5 is an end view from the right end of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 illustrates the action of the tool of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawing, FIGS. 1-3 show a typical prior art ball mark tool 10, and its mode of operation. The tool 10 includes a flat handle 12 and flat blades 14 extending forward of the handle. The blades 14 are formed of the same flat piece as the handle 12, so the flat of the blades is generally coplanar with the flat of the handle (or slightly inclined relative to it, as shown). FIG. 3 illustrates the prying action of this prior art tool 10.

In FIGS. 4, 5, a ball mark tool 20 of this invention includes a flat or planar handle 21, and vertical planar blades 22 extending forward from the handle on parallel blade axes A1, A2 (FIG.5). Handle 21 is of a size to be grasped between a user's thumb and forefinger. Blades 22 include sides 24 of sufficient height to provide blade strength, i.e. vertical rigidity, and top/bottom blade edges 25 to permit the blade to move through turf and soil.

Blades 22 are in planes parallel to each other and normal to the plane of the handle 21. Preferably, the tool 20 is formed from a single piece with each blade 22 turned 90° on its axis relative to the plane of the handle 21.

In FIG. 4, the axes A1, A2 of the blades 22 are shown slightly inclined relative to the handle 21.

The action of the tool 20 is illustrated in FIG. 6. With the tool stuck into turf T and urged in the direction indicated, the action is in the nature of a “combing” action to coax turf and roots back to normal condition by stretching adjacent healthy turf toward the damaged area to cover exposed soil with grass. In addition, the combing action of this invention not only covers exposed soil with healthy turf, and coaxes the turf and roots, it also enhances aeration of turf and roots to promote their quick recovery.

By comparison, the prying, compression and tearing action of the wide flat prior art tools 10 kills grass and exposes brown soil. The prior art tool 10, with its transverse blades, inherently severs more roots than do the vertical blades of this invention because grass roots extend more downward than outward.

Any terms indicative of orientation are used with reference to drawing illustrations. Such terms are not intended as limitations but as descriptive words. Apparatus described herein retains its described character whether it be oriented as shown or otherwise.

The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of this invention sets forth the best mode presently contemplated by the inventor of carrying out this invention. Any details as to materials, quantities, dimensions, and the like are intended as illustrative. The concept and scope of the invention are limited not by the description but only by the following claims and equivalents thereof. 

1. A ball mark repair tool, including a flat and substantially horizontal handle, and a plurality of flat vertical blades extending forward of said handle on parallel blade axes; said blades oriented in planes parallel to each other and normal to the plane of said handle; whereby said handle is adapted to be grasped between a user's thumb and fingers, and said blades are adapted for incremental combing movement through turf and soil.
 2. A ball mark repair tool as defined in claim 1, in which each of said blades, at the juncture thereof with said handle, is turned relative to the plane of said handle, so that the planes of said blades are perpendicular to the plane of said handle.
 3. A ball mark repair tool as defined in claim 1, said tool being formed of a single piece, and each of said blades, at the juncture thereof with said handle, is turned relative to the plane of said handle, so that the planes of said blades are perpendicular to the plane of said handle.
 4. A ball mark repair tool, including a flat handle and a plurality of flat blades extending forward of said handle on parallel blade axes; said blades oriented in planes parallel to each other and normal to the plane of said handle; whereby said handle is adapted to be grasped between a user's thumb and fingers, and a said blades are adapted for incremental combing movement through turf and soil. 